Rail anchor



Patented Nov. 12, 1935 PATENT oFFIcE RAIL ANCHOR Rolandis` A. Blair, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to The P & M Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 1,1, 1931, Serial No. 514,995 -In Great Britain August 20, 1930 14 claims.- V(o1. 23S-329) My invention relates to rail anchoring devices adapted to maintain a xed position on the base portion of a railroad rail and abut against a cross tie to prevent longitudinal creeping movement of the rail, and more particularly to improvements in the rail anchor device shown in Letters Patent No. 1,882,654, granted to me on- October 18, 1932,

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a two-piece rail anchor of the above charater in which the rigid member or Yabutment and the resilient bar member are so formed andv engaged with each other that the upward flexing, oi' the jaw end of the resilient bar is restrained to predetermined limits by reason of its engagement with a portion oi the rigid member and the under-rail portion of the bar Vseats on a portion of the rigid member located inwardlyn with relation to the said restraining portion there.. of, whereby the resilience of the said bar and its engagement with theprigid member serve to support the under-rail portion of the bar firmly against the bottom surface of the rail.-

Another object of `the invention is to so form the transverse bar member of the anchor that,-

when in its applied position on-\ the rail, it exerts pressure on the rigid member transversely of the rail at locations both above Yand below the edge of the rail base, thereby serving to hold the rigid member from moving outwardly in a directionV to loosen its grip on the rail.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character having an abutment or shoe member and 353e. transverse bar member formed at one end with a hook portion arranged in a wedge relationship with the body of the bar and which is held in assembled relation with the said abutment member by reason of a resilient wedging action of ,the bar on portions of the abutment memberV and in which said wedging action is so restrained; by the construction of the shoe member as toavoid movement of the under-rail portion of the bar downwardly away from the bottom surface 415e of the rail base.

-Further Vobjects of the invention will appear from the detailed description of the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a base'portion of a A`grailroad rail showing a rail anchor device con- Y Vstructed in accordance with my invention applied thereto in a position to bear against an adjacent cross tie. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the base flange of the rail Yand the abutment member -Fig. 3 is across sectional Yview-.taken on` line,-

3.-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Y

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing is a two-piece device consisting of an abutment or shoe member I0 adapted to en- 5 gage one base ange of a rail in a position to bear against a vertical face of a cross-tie and a rail base embracing bar Il adapted to be driven transversely of the rail base l2 to its applied position, and adaptedin its applied position by 10 cooperation with portions of the abutment member lil to lock the abutment in its rail gripping position. The bar II may be and preferably is formed of relatively high grade metal, for eX- ample, spring steel, and is bent upon itselfV at 15 one end upwardly and backwardly to provide an upper armfor forming an open loop, designated generally by the reference character I3; The construction of the loop is such as to provide an upper jaw 'i4 and a lower jaw 14a which grip 20 the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of one base ange of the rail when the anchor is in its applied position. Preferably the arm carrying the jaw I4 is of sufficient length and exibility that the bar can4 be applied to rails having base 25 flanges of different thicknesses. The said bar Il may be driven transversely of the rail a distance sumcient to insure a rm grip of the jaws I4 and lita on the top and bottoml surfaces of the rail base. The other end of the bar I I is formed 30 with .anupturned end portion I5 which, in the applied position of the bar, snaps over the opposite edge of the rail base into engagement with the vertical surface thereof to lock the bar II in its applied position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 35 of the drawing. The bar II itself has a substantial grip on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base, but the creep resisting grip is obtained primarily by reason ofthe wedging engagement of the member-Ii) on the upper and lower surfaces ofthe rail base flange, this wedging engagement being maintained through the coo-peration of the bar I I to prevent the abutment member IB from loosening its hold on the rail.- Y

The abutment member .I0 is preferably in the 45 form of a casting havingY spaced plate members I6, Il, either of which may be positioned to engage avvertical face of the cross-tie, depending upon which side of the rail the abutment is applied. The plates IS and I'I are united by means 50 of cross-bars I6a and Ila, spaced apart in vertical` arrangement to provide upper and lower bearings I8 and I9, against which the upper and lower jaws of the bar member bear. In this connection it will be noted that the loop I3 of the bar I I is of a wedge form and is adapted to be driven Y into resilient wedging engagement between the bearing surfaces I8 and-I9, the said surfaces serving toV restrain excessive upward flexing of the iaw, 14.. 'Bhe-bearing suraceY l?, is preferably 60:.-

extended inwardly beneath the base of the rail by forming the plates I6 and I'I with inwardly projecting ledges 20, 2I, the upper surfaces of which coincide with the surface I9. By extending the bearing surface I9, the construction presents an arrangement whereby the inner portion 22 of the bearing surface I9 is disposed a substantial distance inwardly from the bearing surface I8. Consequently the wedging engagement of the loop end of the bar between the bearing surfaces I8 and I9 serves to impart a rocking stress to the loop end of the anchor which, due to the laterally spaced arrangement of the bearings, supports the under rail portion of the bar I I firmly against the bottom surface of the rail base. The loop end I3 of the bar II is formed with a diameter somewhat greater than the vertical distance between the bearings I8 and I9. The construction of the loop I3 is also preferably such that the portion I3a thereof extends downwardly and outwardly below the bottom surface of the underrail portion of the bar when the said bar is in its applied position. Such inclined portion I3a and the oppositely inclined jaw I4, provide con- Yverging surfaces 23, 24 which engage the outer edges of the bearing surfaces I8 and I9, respectively, to prevent movement of the abutment member I outwardly toward the end of the loop in a direction to loosen its grip on the rail.

'I'he abutment member III and the bar II are normally assembled at the factory by driving the bar II between the surfaces I8 and I9 until there is suiiicient wedging engagement between said surfaces and, the loop end of the bar to hold the parts engaged. In applying the anchor to a rail, the abutment member I El is first driven to its rail-engaging position, with notches in the edges of the plates I6 and II engaging the top and bottom surfaces of the rail whereby upper and lower jaws 25 and 26 provided by such notches in each of said plates are driven into rm wedging engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base. The application of the member Il) is preferably effected while the bar I I assumes a position substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The bar I I' is then driven transversely of the rail by striking the looped end I3 thereof to force the wedge shaped loop between the bearings I8 and I9 of the member I0, the the bearing I8 serving to restrain upward fiexing of the jaw I4 and consequently increasing its grip on the top surface of the rail base. As soon' as the bar I I is driven transversely of the rail to its normally applied position, the upturned portion I snaps over the opposite edge of the rail base, so as to lock both the bar and the abutment member I0 in a position of maximum grip on the rail.

I claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar turned backwardly upon itself at one end to provide a jaw for gripping the top surface of one base flange of the rail, and an abutment member having upper and lower bearings spaced laterally of each other transversely of the rail and between which the jaw end of said bar is adapted to be moved into binding engagement therewith, one of said bearings serving to restrain theV outward exing-of the jaw portion of said bar and the other saidV bearing providing a nonyielding support beneath the rail for the underrail portion of the bar. Y

' 2. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar turned backwardly upon itself to form an open loop ofsubstantially wedge form and pro..

viding a jaw for gripping the top surface of one base flange of the rail; and an abutment member having upper and lower bearings spaced laterally of each other transversely of the rail and between which the loop end of said bar is adapted 5 to be moved into binding engagement therewith, the diameter of the loop being greater than the vertical distance between said bearings and having portions above and below the rail base for engagement with the abutment member of the 10 anchor to hold it in its applied position on the I rail.

3. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar member formed at one end with upper and lower jaws for gripping one base flange of a rail and provided at the other end with means for locking engagement with an edge portion of the other base ange of the rail, and an abutment member comprising jaw portions spaced apart longitudinally of the rail and embracing the jaw y end of said bar, means on a jaw portion of said abutment member projecting beneath the rail to provide a support for the under-rail portion of said bar, and a cross bar extending between the jaw portions of the abutment member providing a restraining member to limit the upward movement of the upper jaw of said bar.

4. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar member bent at one end to form upper and lower jaws adapted to be driven into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base at one side of the rail and provided at the other end with means for lockingv engagement with the edge of said rail base at the other side of the rail, an abutment member formed with jaw portions adapted to be driven into gripping engagement with the top and bottom of the rail base at opposite sides ofV the jaw'end of said bar, means on the abutment member for restraining upward exing of the jaw portion of said bar, 40 and means disposed beneath the rail base for supporting the under-rail portion of the bar against the bottom surface of the rail base.

5. A rail anchorl comprising in combination a bar member bent at one end to `form upper and Y lower jaws movable transversely of the rail into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base at one side of the rail and provided at the otherend with means for locking engagement with the edge of said rail base v at the other side of the rail, an abutment member formed with jaw portions adapted to be driven into gripping engagement with the top and bottom of the rail base at opposite sides of the jaw end of said bar, means on the abutment y member for restraining upward flexing of the jaw portion of said bar during the said transverse movement thereof, and means providing ledges disposed beneath the rail base for supporting the under rail portion of the bar against the bottom surface of the rail base.

6. In a rail anchor, the combination of a bar turned upwardly and backwardly upon itself, to form a loop of substantially resilient wedge form, and an abutment plate member comprising means for gripping the base ange of a rail and having spaced bearings for mounting the member movably on the bar with one of the bearings engaging the body of the bar below the level of the bottom face of the rail and the other engaging the Y adapted toengage thefbase. flanger of the rail at 76jv its opposite end portion for holding said gripping means in operative rail gripping position, and the bottom bearing of said abutment plate member being relatively long and adapted to support the under-rail portion of the bar against the bottom surface of the rail base.

7. A rail anchor comprising in combination a bar member bent at one end to form an upper and a. lower jaw adapted to be driven into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base at one side of the rail and provided at its other end with means for locking engagement with the edge of said rail base at the other side of the rail, an abutment member comprising two plates, one disposed at either side of the jaw end of said bar, means on the abutment member extending beneath the rail base for-supporting the under rail portion of said bar in engagement with the bottom surface of the rail base, and a cross-bar uniting the upper portions of said plates and serving as a restraining member to limit the upward flexing of said jaw member.

8. A` rail anchor comprising in combination a bar member bent at one end to form upper and lower jaws adapted to be driven into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base at one side of the rail and provided at its other end with means for locking engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base, an abutment member comprising two plates, one disposed at either side of the jaw end of said bar, and means on each of said plates providing a long bearing surface for the under rail portion of the bar to support said bar in firm contact with the bottom surface or" the rail base and crossbars uniting the said plates at locations above and below said upper and lower jaws of said bar, one of said cross bars serving as means for restraining upward flexing of the jaw portion of said bar.

9. In a rail anchor, the combination of a bar member turned backwardly upon itself at one yend to form a depressed loop and a jaw movable transversely of the rail into engagement with the iiange at one side of the rail and having a lug portion at its opposite end adapted by .engagement with the edge of the flange of the opposite side of the rail to prevent reverse movement of the jaw portion thereof transversely of the rail out of engagement with the ange, and an abutment member comprising two plates at opposite sides of said jaw member, each plate having located on its inner surface a ledge member adapted to hold the bar member against the bottom of the rail base when in applied position, and cross bars extending between said plates in engagement with said jaws serving to hold said jaws from swinging away from each other, whereby the jaws have a strong driving grip on the flange of the rail.

10. In a rail anchor, the combination of an abutment member comprising two plate portions arranged in spaced relation to each other and notched to have gripping engagement with the top and bottom faces of the base flange at one side of a rail, a bar member positioned underneath the rail transversely thereof and having one end portion bent upwardly and backwardly upon the bar to provide a loop positioned between said plates and having holding engagement with said abutment member, said bar member being adapted by engagement with the base flange at the opposite Yside of the rail to hold said abutment member from movement out of engagement with the rail, and an elongated bearing on the inner face of'one of said plate portions of the abutment member underneath the rail and extending transversely of the rail adapted by engagement with a bottom face portion of said bar 5 member to hold said bar member up in holding'.l engagement with the rail.

11. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail gripping member notched to embrace one flange of a rail base and formed to provide a down- 10 wardly-facing seat portion in upwardly spaced. relation to saidl ange and an upwardly-facing seat portion in downwardly spaced relation to said ange and located closer to the central vertical plane through the rail than said first men- 15 tined seat portion, and a transverse member adapted by engagement with said seat portions and with the ange at the opposite side of the rail to hold said gripping member in operative position on the rail. 20

12. A rail anchor comprising, in combination,

a resilient bar extending transversely under the rail and bent at one end upwardly and backwardly to provide an arm portion bearing on one of the rail base flanges and having means at its 25 other end bearing on the other rail base flange, and rigid abutment means having upper and lower bearing members adapted by engagement with said bar to hold the abutment means in fixed position with respect to the rail, the upper mern- 30 ber bearing on the top side of said arm portion to prevent it from springing away from said bal', the lower bearing member being located nearer the middle part of the rail transversely thereof than the upper bearing member and bearing 35 against the under side of said bar to support it.

13. In a rail anchor, the combination of a retaining member comprising a resilient bar extending transversely under the rail and bent at one end upwardly and backwardly to provide an arm 40 portion bearing on one of the rail base flanges and having means at its other end bearing on the other rail base flange, and rigid abutment means having a seat portion bearing on the top side of said arm portion to prevent it from springing away from said bar, said abutment means having a portion offset to one side with respect to said seat portion and bearing against said retaining member and tending by its pressure on the retaining member to swing the bar against the base of the rail, said inter-engaging portions of said retaining member and said abutment means serving also to hold the abutment means in fixed position with respect to the rail.

14. In a rail anchor, the combination of a retaining member comprising a resilient bar exv tending transversely under the rail and bent at one end upwardly and backwardly to provide an arm portion bearing on one of the rail base flanges and having means at its other end bearing on the other rail base flange, and rigid abutment means having seat portions bearing respectively on the top side of said arm portion and against the bottom face of said bar and adapted by engagement with said retaining member to 65 hold the abutment means in xed position with respect to the rail, said abutment means also having a portion offset to one side with respect to said seat portions and bearing against said retaining member and tending by its pressure on the retaining member to swing the bar against the base of the rail. ROLANDIS A. BLAIR. 

